Indo-US Nuclear deal likely in Sep: Bush

International

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Published: Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 8:31 [IST]

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Washington, Aug 27: The Bush Administration is trying hard to get the Indo-US nuclear deal well within its tenure maybe in early September, as the deal is critically important for both the countries. "Our principal focus right now has been on the India civil nuclear deal, having worked through the IAEA, now working through the NSG, and still trying to get into a position to make the appropriate Presidential determinations in early September," US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice told sources.

''And, we are aware that the congressional clock is ticking and we are going to be consulting with other governments, particularly governments in the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG), to try to move this process forward as quickly as we can,'' State Department's Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood said on Tuesday, Aug 26 in reply to a question.

He, however, said, ''there are a number of concerns that some countries have about what's been -- about the agreement, but they're good questions and we think we've got good answers to those.'' ''But -- we are aware that the clock is ticking, but it is a very important agreement for both countries and we want to see it happen,'' Spokesman Wood said.

Referring to the proceedings of the Vienna NSG meeting which discussed the agreement, Wood said, ''we have discussions with (member) governments about these issues. We'll do our best to address those concerns, as the Indians are trying to do to address concerns that other governments may have about the agreement.'' In reply to another question, he said, there were no plans that he knew of, of changing the agreement. ''But you know, in life you never rule things out. But it's obviously got to be something that both the United States and India can agree, you know, can agree to if there were going to be changes. But I -- I've heard no mention of a need to, you know, adjust the agreement in any way,'' Wood said.